Swilley Family Finally Does Disney 'Right'!~Trip Report~**Updated 9/29** - Page 8 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Hello my wonderful passporter friends! I have not forgotten you! I have "work on TR" on my list of things to do everyday, but, cannot get into the grove of things as there have been big changes in our household the last couple of weeks!
My Isaiah started school last week! . Mama bear has been in mourning. He loves it--I miss him. He goes to Kindergarten everyday, so I've gone to being with him always, to feeling like he's disappeared. He's already changing and acting all grown up on me!
He also learned to ride his bike last week!
If anyone knows where they sell those kid- sized bubbles that people talk about, please e-mail me the link. I'd like 3.
Also, since he's gone to school, I changed my shift from afternoons to 12 hr midnights . That's where I am now--exhausted.
So, you see, I have not forgotten, but just been preoccupied and promise to return to my TR soon!
Please stay tuned.
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Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Glad that he is enjoying school though...as hard as it is to have him leave everyday it would be harder if he was unhappy....(my youngest had such seperation anxiety that they finally forbade me from bringing her to school - they had my oldest drop her off) and the worst was that I would go to work after dropping her off feeling sick to my stomach all day)
Can't wait to hear more of your TR....but I am patient I will wait.....
So glad you are writing a TR. It is so much fun to see everything through the eyes of first timers. Your kids are adorable! Starting school is a very big deal, hope you all continue to adjust well. Get back to writing as soon as you can! I'll be waiting!
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Donning my Wellies to cut Peat in Scotland
Melissa
I found you - thanks for the link!! I've finished reading your PTR and now your trippie...I love the way you write! And your kids are soooo adorable! I can't wait to read the rest.
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Ellen
Mom to three great kids!!
Oh, and wife of Marty
Glad to hear you will be back with an update soon. I am sorry you are so exhausted. I know exactly what you mean about your little baby growing up. My DS7 was always so attached to me and now only wants to be with his friends. I can't believe it starts this young. Anyway, it sounds like you had a great first day. Love the pictures. Can't wait for more.
Hang in there and we'll patiently await your next update.
Thanks for checking in on me!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArielsMomto2
I will take all the good wishes I can get!
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Originally Posted by POOH
Don't you just hate it when real life gets in the way. Get some rest. We'll be patiently awaiting an update.
Yes, real life is definetly in my way lately! But, happy to report, it;s getting better!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Hang in there!!
I'm taking it one day at a time!
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Originally Posted by mcc0313
Glad that he is enjoying school though...as hard as it is to have him leave everyday it would be harder if he was unhappy....(my youngest had such seperation anxiety that they finally forbade me from bringing her to school - they had my oldest drop her off) and the worst was that I would go to work after dropping her off feeling sick to my stomach all day)
Can't wait to hear more of your TR....but I am patient I will wait.....
Sooo true. I would've had to follow him and wait in the parking lot with binoculars!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lissybri
Glad to hear you will be back with an update soon. I am sorry you are so exhausted. I know exactly what you mean about your little baby growing up. My DS7 was always so attached to me and now only wants to be with his friends. I can't believe it starts this young. Anyway, it sounds like you had a great first day. Love the pictures. Can't wait for more.
I know! He already goes straight from the bus to his bike!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom2JPL
I found you - thanks for the link!! I've finished reading your PTR and now your trippie...I love the way you write! And your kids are soooo adorable! I can't wait to read the rest.
!
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Originally Posted by DyanKJ130
Rest up! It may take some time, but it will get easier.
It already is! The long Labor Day weekend helped.
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Originally Posted by joeandjenn
Just caught up on your TR. Great job! I want to know more about your crafts, please! Links?
I don't have much more crafts than what I've shown so far! (I'm kind of a novice). I'll have to take pics of my recent scrapbook pages for my report!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by MGW
So glad you are writing a TR. It is so much fun to see everything through the eyes of first timers. Your kids are adorable! Starting school is a very big deal, hope you all continue to adjust well. Get back to writing as soon as you can! I'll be waiting!
Today!
__________________
Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
Day Two- The Mother Ship of all theme parks—The Magic Kingdom
I had taken the advice of my pp friends and set a wake up call the night before so that I could be awakened with a smile by a Disney voice! Bad news, either they don't do that any more, or, I did it wrong! No voice, no music, no friendly recording even. Just a ring and silence. Not very magical....I tried several mornings before I gave up and just used the alarm clock. Anyway, since we had had such a late night previously, I drug myself out of bed and got myself and the backpack ready before waking everyone else. The were grouchy and needed lots of convincing, so I felt guilty about not letting everyone sleep in, but I knew my determination to get to MK for EMH was for everyone's benefit and enjoyment, so I persisted!
We had a quick breakfast in the room and were on a bus by around 7: 45. I was disappointed, because I wanted to be there by then to catch the opening ceremonies, but at least were on our way. Can I say that I totally got butterflies when we passed the entrance. We had only been by car previously, so it was fun to zoom past the parking cars and end up on the other side of the lagoon! Even though we had been to HS the day before, there is just something about the MK. We were so giddy !
I had decided to follow the “MK 2-day touring plan for parents with small children- day 1” plan from the unofficial guide book. I had it clipped and folded into quarters, which fits nicely in the fasspass slot of the passporter pouch. We quickly got our stroller and were on our way to stop 1: Dumbo. Now, everything I read said “go straight to Dumbo, do not pass go (characters), do not collect $200 (if there were $200 to collect, I so would've stopped ), do not stop for pictures. But, I couldn't resist....
We were in line for Dumbo by 8:28 (not bad, but I was disappointed—I do loosen up as the week goes on). I wish the line for this allowed for multiple trips, because my kids just it. Being in control of your own flying elephant is, in a word, delightful. They wanted to ride it again, but, the line was already getting long, and we had to get moving if we were going to accomplish lots before rest time!
Can I just say that EMH at MK are priceless! I will never not get there first thing in the morning again. As the crowds swelled and you could barely walk by noon, we were so glad we had gotten there when we did. We were able to ride Dumbo, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Mad Tea Party, and IASW by 10:00! There were even some celebrities at our Tea Party!
Next on the agenda was obtaining the coveted FP's for Splash! We attempted to pass Micah (38”) for 40. But, the CM at the FP machines assured us that they would not let him on. We got 4 anyway, so Shannon and I could take turns with Isaiah. Our return times were for between 1130 and 1230, so we headed for the next stop on our plan (which seemed to work seamlessly, by the way), Tom Sawyer.
We spent about 20 min there (as a side note, I think it is the silliest thing to spend all that time on the “boat” to the island when I could jump in and swim across faster than they chug that raft over—just build a bridge people!) I also wanted to note here that on my trip I came up with my own little polls for things that I would vote best and worst. One was the bathrooms. I am happy to award Tom Sawyer Island- Best Bathroom. It was uncrowded, clean (had that fresh bleach smell), and COOL (I totally had an 'Eileen cold toilet seat moment', could've sat there all day). The music was a little loud, but, what the heck, Leah and I did a little gig to celebrate the award! (I will get to the worst bathroom later—yuck).
Since our FP's were not yet ripe and it we were very hot, we decided to break for lunch early. We took more advice and tried the CHH, upstairs. Nice atmosphere, okay food (honestly, can't remember what we had).
Now, comes the highlight of this day—Isaiah's first ride on SM. He was so excited! Shannon decided that he didn't want to get wet, so I got to take him. We went through so quickly with our fastpasses that we rode it twice in a row and he absolutely loved it! To quote, “This is the best time of my life and my dream come true. I always wanted to go on this ride.” How absolutely sweet is that! I pulled out an index card and wrote it down just then so I wouldn't forget! And, as you can guess, I got a little teary.... We didn't get much but our bums wet , but would try again later in the week!
While we rode splash, Shannon took the shorter two to Country Bear. When I asked him how it was, he said he didn't know cause he fell asleep! I guess that answers that!
Up next- The Crystal Palace with Pooh and Friends!
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Read all about it in my TR, "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!" Jill Phil. 4: 13
Great update!! I couldn't agree with your more on EMH morning at MK!! You can get so much done Great pictures!! And glad Isaiah loved his first time on Splash More please
About This Page: 
. That's where I am now--exhausted. 
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Thank
Pixie Dust
I will wait.....
Here's my PTR:
![[SIGPIC]](signaturepics/sigpic27594_7.gif)
!
Even though we had been to HS the day before, there is just something about the MK. We were so giddy 
), do not stop for pictures. But, I couldn't resist....
). I wish the line for this allowed for multiple trips, because my kids just 
it. Being in control of your own flying elephant is, in a word, delightful. They wanted to ride it again, but, the line was already getting long, and we had to get moving if we were going to accomplish lots before rest time!
I will never not get there first thing in the morning again. As the crowds swelled and you could barely walk by noon, we were so glad we had gotten there when we did. We were able to ride Dumbo, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Mad Tea Party, and IASW by 10:00! 
We got 4 anyway, so Shannon and I could take turns with Isaiah. Our return times were for between 1130 and 1230, so we headed for the next stop on our plan (which seemed to work seamlessly, by the way), Tom Sawyer. 
I pulled out an index card and wrote it down just then so I wouldn't forget! And, as you can guess, I got a little teary....
, but would try again later in the week!
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